George jones atkins



UNITED STATES GEORGE JONES ATKINS,

PnTrzivr OFFICE.

OF. LONDON, ENGLAND.

CHLOROCYANID SALTS AND noosss OF M KInG SA-ME.

SPECIFICATION forming part 'of Letters Patent No'. 578,908, dated March 16, 1897.

Application filed October 3, 1896. Serial No. 607,763. (No specimens.) Patented in England April 17, 1 894,110. 7,648; in

France April 10, 1895, No. 246,646; in Belgium April 10, 1895, No. 114,994; in-Germa'ny Aprilll, 1895, No- 86,098] in Victoria January 9, 1896, No- 12,801,' in South Australia January 10, 1896, 110". 3,115; in New South Wales January 11; 1896, No. 6,326; in Tasmania January 13,1896, No.1,647; in New Zealand January 27,1896,No.8,220, and in Western Australia September 24, 1896, No. 747.

To all whom it may eoncerm Be it known that I, GEORGE JONES ATKINS, metallurgist, a subjectof the Queen of Great Britain, residing at 35 East Bank, Stamford Hill, London, in the county of Middlesex,

England, have invented certain newor'lmproved Glilorocyanid Salts or Compounds, (for which I have obtained Letters Patent in Great Britain, dated April 17, 1894, No. 7,648; o in France, dated April 10, 1895, No. 246,546; in Belgium, dated April 10,1895, No.114,994; in Germany, dated April 11,1895, No. 86,098; in Victoria, dated January 9, 1896, No. 12,801; in New South Wales, dated January 11, 1896, 15 No. 6,326; in South Australia, dated January 10, 1896, No. 3,115; in Western Austraiia,

dated September 24, 1896, No. 747; in Tasmania, dated January 13, 1896, No. 1,547, and in New Zealand, dated J anuary27 1896, No.

8,220,) of which the following is a specification.

It is well known that chlorin and cyanogen are solvents of the metals, especially gold and silver, for example; but ,I have found that 2 5 compounds of those bodies with alkaline metals or earths are very eflicient agents for dissolving or leaching metals; and my'present invention consists in the production of such compounds for use in dissolving and recovering or separating metals from their ores and from other substances with which they may be found combined orassociated and for other purposes. For this purpose I fuse together a chlorid of an alkali and a compound of cyanogen with one or more alkaline or other bases, one at least of which is eleetrm positive to the metal to be dissolved. 'Thi's makes a fixed chlorocyanid salt or compound consisting of chlorin and cyanogen with one or more bases, which salt when dissolved 1n water makes a good solvent of the metals, especially of gold and silver.

The above-mentioned fixed chlorocyanid salt or compound is very stable and doesnot readily oxidize or split up when in solution. It is capable of being stored and of being transported from place to place with great facility, as it is less hygroscopic than potassium cyanid. It can-be produced very cheaply.

The ingredients for forming the chlorocyanid salt or compound, which may be regarded as a double salt of chlorin and cyanogen, may be varied very considerably so long as they comprise on the one hand a ehlorid of an alkali and on the other a-compound of cyanogen with one'or more alkaline or other bases, one at least of which is electropositive to-the metal to be dissolved. The proportionsof the ingredients may also be varied very considerably, according to circumstances. I have, however, obtained good results by using one part by weight of ferro- "cyanid" of an alkali, such as potassium ferrocyanid, for example, to two parts by weight of chlorid of an alkali, such as sodium chlo-' rid, for example. I divide these ingredients into small pieces by crushing, grinding, or otherwise, then thoroughly dry and mix them together, and then place them in a crucible,

retort, or other suit-able vessel and subject them to fusion at as low a' temperature as Ipossible consistent with obtaining perfect fusion of the ingredients. The temperature should be kept as low as possible in order to minimize loss by volatilization. When completely fused, themass maybe poured into molds or be otherwise prepared for use. I sometimes add a small quantity of carbon to the ingredients before, or during the fusion to prevent splitting up of the cyanogen.

I have found sodium chlorid and potassium ferrocyanid most suitable for the purpose on account of their cheapness'; but it is obvious that the analogues of those substances may be employed. For example, potassium .chloas will enable the active solvent to be retained for use again and again. For example, When' the metal is deposited electrically from this solution the active solvent is liberated in the electrolytic cell in a condition to be used again, after being brought up to the required strength to dissolve more metal.

I am aware that solutions of potassium cyanid and of mixtures of solutions of sodium chlorid and potassium cyanid, and in some cases of these salts mixed with others, have useful for photographic purposes as a fixing agent. It is also useful for electrolytic purposesas an electrolyte in electromctallurgy.

I claim-- 1. The herein-described process of forming chlorocyanid salts or compounds consisting in fusing together a chlorid of an alkali and a compound of cyanogen with one or more bases, substantially as described.

2. The herein-described process of formin'g ehlorocyanid salts or compounds consisting in fusing together ferrocyanid of an alkali such as potassium ferroeyanid and chlorid of an alkali such as sodium 'ehlorid, substantially as described.

3. The improved chlorocyanid salts or compound consisting of a chlorid of an alkali and a compound of cyanogen fused together with one or more bases, one of which is electropositive to the metal to be dissolved.

4. The improved chlorocyanid salt or com-v pound consisting of ferrocyanid-of an alkali such as potassium ferrocyanid and chlorid of an alkali such as sodium chlorid fused together, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE JONES ATKINS.

Witnesses:

STEPHEN EDWARD GUNYON, FRED. G. HARRIS. 

